A growing movement is demanding the United States do away with the death penalty. In 2012 voters had the chance to vote to replace California’s death penalty with life without the possibility of parole. But while some saw the ballot measure as a way to end the death penalty, others saw Life Without Parole as another kind of death sentence.

On this edition reporter Nancy Mullane speaks to some of those on California’s death row and we hear from two opponents of the death penalty about where the movement to end executions goes next.

Featuring:

Sam Robinson, Public Information Officer Lieutenant; Walter Cook, San Quentin State Prison Inmate; Demitrius Howard, San Quentin State Prison Inmate; Justin Helzer, San Quentin State Prison Inmate; Christine Thomas, Campaign to End the Death Penalty; David Dow, University of Houston Law Center professor.

This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

George Lavender is a producer for the National Radio Project. He joined the National Radio Project in 2012. He has worked as a radio reporter for several outlets, including Pacifica and Radio France International. In addition to Making Contact, George reports and edits for Free Speech Radio News. He is also a member of FSRNâ€™s steering committee. His written work has appeared in The Guardian as well as local newspapers in the UK. He has been involved in several media production groups in London and Vancouver. He is keen to provide radio production trainings to community groups and grassroots organizations. Follow him on Twitter @georgelavender, or email him at glavender@radioproject.org.

A growing movement is demanding the United States do away with the death penalty. In 2012 voters had the chance to vote to replace California’s death penalty with life without the possibility of parole. But while some saw the ballot measure as a way to end the death penalty, others saw Life Without Parole as another kind of death sentence.

On this edition reporter Nancy Mullane speaks to some of those on California’s death row and we hear from two opponents of the death penalty about where the movement to end executions goes next.

Featuring:

Sam Robinson, Public Information Officer Lieutenant; Walter Cook, San Quentin State Prison Inmate; Demitrius Howard, San Quentin State Prison Inmate; Justin Helzer, San Quentin State Prison Inmate; Christine Thomas, Campaign to End the Death Penalty; David Dow, University of Houston Law Center professor.

This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

George Lavender is a producer for the National Radio Project. He joined the National Radio Project in 2012. He has worked as a radio reporter for several outlets, including Pacifica and Radio France International. In addition to Making Contact, George reports and edits for Free Speech Radio News. He is also a member of FSRNâ€™s steering committee. His written work has appeared in The Guardian as well as local newspapers in the UK. He has been involved in several media production groups in London and Vancouver. He is keen to provide radio production trainings to community groups and grassroots organizations. Follow him on Twitter @georgelavender, or email him at glavender@radioproject.org.